This year, they’ll have a hard time topping the wonderful installations and events of 2016, when the grounds of the former Rothschild estate positively glowed with the Field of Light. But, in 2017, they’ve had a good go and they’ve given the video design students of the Guildhall School of Music & Drama a real chance to shine.

In creating Waddesdon Imaginarium, seven Guildhall students experimented with 3D scanning and video projection technology to cover the entire front of Baron Ferdinand Rothschild’s faux French chateau with an animated parade of dancing clocks, 18th century portraits, fluttering butterflies and moths, flowers and porcelain animals – all scanned from objects in the Waddesdon Collection.

The performance, accompanied by an original score and synchronized lighting effects, used 14 large format projectors to cover the1,700 square metre facade with a dazzling 12-minute display. The score was created by 111 Guildhall students in the BMus (Hons) programs in Electronic Music and Jazz.

My jittery videos should give you a taste of the spectacle.

Inside Waddesdon, artists and designers were invited to design decorations around the theme of an Enchanted Menagerie, drawing on the artworks and objects in the rooms for inspiration.

Imaginary animals decorate the Christmas tree in the Smoking Room.Noah’s Ark on the Billiards Table

Meanwhile, The Electric Menagerie – neon animals, created by American multi-media artist Lauren Booth, lit up unexpected corners of the estate.

And because it wouldn’t be Christmas without an opportunity to stock up on holiday gifts, this year’s Waddesdon Christmas Fair is arrayed along the front promenade leading to the house. The fair features food, drink, produce and crafts from local artisan producers and national independent traders. Lots of it is very tempting. We left with shopping bags full.

Waddesdon Christmas Essentials

Christmas festivities at Waddesdon are on from now to January 2 (except December 24-26), 11am to 6pm

Waddesdon Imaginarium, the sound and light show, begins at dusk every evening during the holiday opening hours.

The Christmas Market, with 80 decorated wooden chalets is open until December 10.

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Ferne Arfin

Ferne Arfin is an American abroad. She lives in London and has been writing and photographing her travels for daily newspapers, magazines, anthologies and websites since 2003.
Currently, she is the Contributing Writer on United Kingdom Travel for TripSavvy.com. She's also a member of the British Guild of Travel Writers, the Society of Authors and the National Union of Journalists.